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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2000

Governor Announces Infrastructure Upgrades for Litchfield, Gillespie

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that Illinois
FIRST is helping to secure low interest loans for the cities of Litchfield
and Gillespie to expand and upgrade their critical water and sewer infrastructure.

"Over the past year, Illinois FIRST has made a big difference
in communities just like these in every corner of the state," Ryan
said. "Without Illinois FIRST, the state simply would not be able
to provide the assistance that many communities need to maintain and
improve their critical infrastructure."

An $8.63 million low-interest loan has been approved for the city of
Litchfield to expand and improve the city's sewage treatment plant.
In the past, Litchfield has had difficulty complying with state effluent
standards and has been subject to formal enforcement action because
of these violations. The planned work should bring Litchfield into compliance
with state effluent regulations.

Work will include the addition of an oxidation ditch, and relocation
of the influent line to the treatment plant. Other additions will include
final clarifiers, a sludge pump building, a sludge filter press, sludge
storage tank and an excess flow chlorine contact tank.

Ryan also announced a $2.02 million low-interest loan for the city
of Gillespie to bring the citys drinking water plant into compliance
with state standards.

In addition to water treatment plant improvements, a new raw water
pumping station will be constructed at New Gillespie Lake, and a new
24,000 foot, 16 inch diameter raw water transmission main will be built
from the lake to the treatment plant. The improvements are the first
phase of a planned two-step project.

Both loans are made through revolving loan programs administered by
the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The governors Illinois
FIRST program guarantees full funding of IEPAs loan programs through
fiscal year 2004. The revolving loan programs utilize federal and state
funding to provide loans for eligible projects at half the bond market
interest rate. Interest paid on the 20 year loans is returned to the
fund to support other low interest loans.